The Oura Ring 4.
Courtesy: Oura
LISBON — Apple will not introduce a smart ring, the CEO of health technology company Oura told CNBC, despite speculation that the iPhone giant could be considering a move into this product category.
The debut of Samsung's smart ring earlier this year has put the product firmly in the spotlight, and one analyst predicted earlier this year that Apple could launch its own smart ring in 2026.
But Tom Hale, CEO of Oura, which has been developing smart rings since the company was founded in 2013, said he doesn't think Apple will enter that space.
“I think they [Apple] “They're not convinced of the value of having a ring and a watch together and they're not interested in undermining the Apple Watch as a business,” Hale told CNBC in an interview Tuesday at the Web Summit in Lisbon, Portugal.
“I think they're probably keeping a close eye on Samsung and us, but it's hard to do well in this product category.”
Under CEO Tim Cook, Apple has focused heavily on health apps through the Apple Watch and related services.
A smart ring is a type of wearable device packed with sensors that can give the user information about things like their health, activity, and sleep. They're lightweight and have long-lasting battery life, which fans say makes them ideal for all-day wear, even while sleeping, compared to a smartwatch that may be less comfortable and therefore removed more frequently. .
“Apple is a very focused company. They say, 'We're all about the watch. We're going to make the watch our platform,'” Hale said.
Oura recently launched its next-generation Oura Ring 4 as competition increases in the wearable sector.
